In situ study of structural integrity of low transformation temperature (LTT)-welds

We discuss the stability of weld residual strain under static and quasi cyclic transverse tensile loading in the elastic and elastic-plastic region. The test welds were joined with low transformation temperature weld filler materials with 10 wt% Cr and varying Ni-content from 8 to 12 wt%. Using neutron diffraction the residual lattice strain in the martensitic alpha'- and austenitic gamma-phase in the fusion zone as well as the ferritic alpha-phase in the heat affected zone and base metal as (1) induced by welding, (2) superimposed by stepwise tensile loading and (3) after unloading was measured. The amount of retained austenite in the fusion zone increases with increasing Ni-content, but it decreases with increasing load level due to stress induced martensite formation. In the as-welded condition the transverse macroscopic residual lattice strain was found to be in low compression in the fusion zone in each weld, while the heat affected zone was in tension. Local plastic deformation of the gamma-phase as a result of yielding during tensile loading in combination with the change in phase fraction resulted in increased macroscopic compression in the fusion zone. The reduced yield strength in the heat affected zone resulted in plastic deformation and a considerable shift into compression. Comparison with the cross weld distribution of the hardness and FWHM of the neutron diffraction interference lines supported the assumption of plastic deformation of the gamma- and alpha-phase in the fusion and heat affected zone, respectively, while the alpha-phase in the fusion zone was stressed within the elastic regime only. Microstructural observations as well as measurement of the local gamma-phase fraction by means of laboratory X-ray diffraction in the fusion zone strengthen these observations. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.